DECEMBER: Advanced training in Dialogue facilitation

Applications for the next training in Dialogue facilitation are now open. We hope to welcome you to Lillehammer from December 2-6th.

APPLY HERE  

Dialogue facilitation is an approach in conflict transformation and community building which enable people to talk together in an honest, open, and humanizing manner. Participants are invited to a process-based way of talking, where empathic listening and good questions form the foundation, and inclusiveness, respect, joint ownership, and humanity are the key ingredients. The facilitator of this process is crucial for creating and maintaining a safe space where participants feel respected, heard, and valued – they feel that they are entering a conversation where they matter.

If you want to learn how to organize and facilitate dialogue processes in different contexts like conflict situations, challenging topics or for building or re-building social networks this is the right training for you.

READ MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING CONTENT HERE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

WHEN?        Monday 2nd – 6th of December (advised arrival on the 1st)
WHERE?      Scandic Victoria Hotel, Lillehammer, Norway
LANGUAGE English

FEE 1 350 EURO
The fee covers all accommodation costs and meals for the duration of the training.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Oct. 18th
(If you need a visa, we recommend applying as soon as you can) 

APPLY HERE 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
After the training, in order for the participants to receive their certificates, they are required to facilitate one dialogue in their community, institution, organization or equivalent. The trainers will provide online support before and after the individual dialogue facilitation.

Acceptance to this training requires either extensive experience in dialogue work or participation in our introductory training Dialogue in Conflict.

Once the participants have facilitated a dialogue on their own, an online certificate ceremony will be hosted by the trainers.

SEPTEMBER: Training in Facilitation of public Dialogue

Applications for the next training in Facilitation of Public Dialogue are now open. We hope to welcome you to Lillehammer from 23rd to 27th of September.

APPLY HERE

A public dialogue is a facilitated dialogue for the public about a topic of public interest. This form of dialogue can be open gatherings for anyone who wants to attend, or closed dialogue meetings for invited parts of a community or group. This approach is particularly useful for addressing sensitive, conflicted, or controversial topics. In a public dialogue, participants have space to share their personal stories and thoughts, and perhaps build trust and better understanding across differences.

Learning outcomes

This training emphasizes insights and practical knowledge about the public dialogue approach as well as how to facilitate such dialogues. Facilitation is about creating safe space so that the participants in a dialogue can share openly and honestly. During this training, participants will practice the tools a facilitator has to their disposal to create this atmosphere.

In addition, you will learn about the various steps of how to plan and organize public dialogues. Together, this training will give you all that you need to facilitate inclusive conversations on various topics.

*Some experience in dialogue work or previous participation in the introductory course “Dialogue in Conflict” is an advantage, but not a requirement to participate.

Read more about the training content.
Read more about our dialogue approach.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

WHEN? Monday 23-27th of September (advised arrival on the 22nd)
WHERE? Scandic Victoria Hotel, Lillehammer, Norway
LANGUAGE English

FEE 1 090 EURO
(The fee covers all accommodation costs and meals for the duration of the training)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Aug 12th
(If you need a visa, we recommend applying as soon as you can) 

This training has limited spots available. We therefore recommend applying sooner rather than later.

APPLY HERE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

JUNE: Training in Dialogue in Conflict

Applications for the next training in Dialogue in Conflict are now open. We hope to welcome you to Lillehammer from June 17th to 21st.

APPLY HERE

Dialogue is a way of communicating which aims to deepen and challenge our understanding of ourselves and our relation to “the other”, rather than trying to convince or win with arguments and facts. As dialogue creates space for people´s personal thoughts, emotions, experiences, and world views – it enables us to build or rebuild relationships, as well as becoming better communicators.

This training is for you who is interested in exploring the potential of dialogue to transform conflicts into opportunities, regardless of educational background or profession.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

WHEN? Monday 17th– Friday 21st (advised arrival on the 16th)
WHERE? Scandic Victoria Hotel, Lillehammer, Norway
LANGUAGE English

FEE 1 090 EURO
(The fee covers all accommodation costs and meals for the duration of the training)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May. 6th
(If you need a visa, we recommend applying as soon as you can) 

APPLY HERE

This training has limited spots available. We therefore recommend applying sooner rather than later.

READ MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING CONTENT HERE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The art of facilitation – An interview with three dialogue practitioners

What is it like to participate in a training at the Nansen Center? We had a talk with Sadhu, Nancy and Karoline who shared their thoughts and insights after attending our training in dialogue facilitation.

A PEACE WORKER, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND A PRIEST: Three well-experienced dialoge practitioners share insights on the value of dialogue facilitation.

In a dialogue, facilitation is about creating a safe space so that people can talk to each other in an honest, open, and empathic manner. The facilitator’s role is to make sure that the participants feel respected, listened to, and valued – that their voices matter.

Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue (NCPD) offers a dedicated training on how to facilitate dialogues. Facilitation is a skill that needs practice to develop. All trainings at the NCPD builds upon the personal stories and reflections that the participants bring to the table (or into the dialogue circle). You learn through interaction with others, and the varity of people participating, is what makes every training experience unique.

This fall we had participants from all over the world, representing countries like Sweden, Germany, Poland, Chile, Colombia, Rwanda, Nepal, and Ireland. We had a talk with three of them, who willingly shared their first thoughts after an intense week in Lillehammer, Norway.

Read more about our trainings and approach.

Sadhu Ram Tamang, peace advisor (Nepal)

Sadhu Ram Tamang is a peace advisor from Katmandu in Nepal, working for an international development organization. Since 2020, he’s been engaged in the field of dialogue, organizing activities, and building capacity for dialogue in his home country.

According to Sadhu, many conflicts in Nepal concerns access and distribution of resources like water, forests, and minerals. Politics, ideologies, and religious extremism have marked the landscape of conflicts in the country. However, things are changing. Sadhu believes that many of these issues can be addressed using the dialogue approach.  

I really enjoyed the holistic approach, not just on how to use this professionally, but also how I can use this in my own life and serve humanity as best as I can.

Sadhu Ram Tamang

– Occasionally, underlying conflicts between the Hindu and the Muslim population have flared to the surface. As a response to this, we have facilitated inter-religious dialogues in Lahan, southern Nepal. This is an ongoing process that has been well received by both the civil society and national authorities.

– On a national level, I’ve been mapping the various organizations working with dialogue and conflict transformation in Nepal. Their approaches and methods might differ, but the main goal has been to create a space where these can talk and share experiences. In 2022, this work led to the Nepal Dialogues Summit 2022. This year we are awaiting over 40 organizations to the Nepal Dialogue Summit 2023.

What was your main motivation for participating in this training?

– I wanted to sharpen, testify, and verify my own understandings. This has been a life-changing experience. I really enjoyed the holistic approach, not just on how to use this professionally, but also how I can use this in my own life and serve humanity as best as I can.

– In the case of Nepal, I believe these insights and tools can be useful to build a larger community of dialogue.

Was there anything that made a particular impact on you?

– One thing that really made an impact on me was how open all the participants were. How quickly we all gained trust and respect to each other. There was a great sense of togetherness, love and caring. I believe it has something to do with the methodology. The training is not guided by the content but rather by the flow of sharing and interaction.

– It was something very special and I will keep this in my heart and mind forever.

Karoline Faber, priest in the Church of Norway (Germany/Norway)

Karoline Faber is a Lutheran priest in the Church of Norway. She’s also managing an church dialogue center in Drammen. Originally, Karoline is from Germany, but the past 14 years she’s been living in Norway.

Karoline explains that joining the facilitation training was rather a spontaneous decision.

– I’m involved as an observer in a local dialogue forum with religious leaders. The main topic here is how to relate to life stories from people within the LGBT+ community. Recently, we had a dialogue session with Christiane from the Nansen Center. As a person who works with dialogue professionally, I was quite impressed of this approach and thought to myself: “If this method exists, I want to learn how to do this”.

The world is as it is, but there is a sparkle of hope that changes can happen when people are sharing space and gain trust to each other.

Karoline Faber

In what way do you think the Nansen method might be useful for you?

– As a priest, I meet many people across beliefs and culture. My job is also a lot about how the church interacts with the wider society. In these contexts, there are so many layers to take into consideration: Like prejudice, our faith and personal conviction. I believe that dialogue is the best way to cope with this.

How did you experience the training?

– It’s been super intense! There is a lot to take in and you are giving so much of yourself in the training. I also find it very developing that you get so much feedback from your fellow participants and the trainers. Dialogue and facilitations are crafts, and it is paramount to practice for developing your skills.

– One thing that will stick to my mind is the power of genuine meetings between humans. When people are meeting in an honest way, great things can happen. The world is as it is, but there is a sparkle of hope that changes can happen when people are sharing space and gain trust to each other.

Nancy Biwott, associate director at CMU-Africa (Kenya/Rwanda)

Originally from Kenya, Nancy Biwott works as an associate director at the Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Kigali Rwanda. She’s passionately advocating for a more inclusive equal society for all. In addition to her work at the university, the last ten years she’s been facilitating a dialogue forum that addresses various topics related to their local community – on how to include each other and live together peacefully.

What was your main motivation for participating?

– In 2021 during covid, I attended one of NCPDs digital trainings. I found the content both powerful and transformative. What I loved about it was how little it focused on grand theories, but rather its reflective and contemplating approach. I instantly knew that I wanted to dig deeper into this, and I was very happy to get selected for this training.

Amazing trainers and participants. Amazing discussions. Amazing risk-taking.

Nancy Biwott

In what way do you think the insights from the training can be applied in your work?

– There are several topics in Rwanda that can be addressed through public dialogue sessions. In the community dialogue forum, we have organized dialogues on topics like gender equality, mental health, and inclusion of people with disabilities and refugees. These talks have been valuable to reflect upon our experiences, our beliefs and how we understand each other as a community.

– In my work at the university, I also work a lot with conflicts involving students or employees. It strikes me that these conflicts are often just levels of different understandings. That’s why I find this tool and method so powerful. In the dialogue, our needs, feelings, perspectives, and ideologies are uncovered. From there, many great things can happen.

How was it for you personally to be part of this group and training?

– Throughout this week we’ve had time to reflect upon our own assumptions, understandings, and experiences in life. I loved the deepness of this training, and how much each one opened up, shared, and showed trust to each other, Nancy elaborates and concludes:

– Amazing trainers and participants. Amazing discussions. Amazing risk-taking.

Reporting from the Frontlines: An Unyielding Pursuit of Truth Amidst Conflict

Journalists reporting from conflict zones face numerous challenges and risks as they navigate through uncertainty and danger. Salam Omer, a devoted journalist dedicated to shedding light on the realities of war and peace, shares his experiences and the obstacles he confronts.

Safety, access to information and financial sustainabilty is paramount while working as a journalist in conflicted areas, according to Salam Omer.

Salam Omer is a highly accomplished journalist and media trainer from Iraq, with vast experience from both media and the business sector. Omer is dedicated to promoting dialogue and peace in Iraq’s disputed territories, incorporating the methodology of the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue into his work as an editor-in chief at the news agency KirkukNow.

With unwavering determination, he highlights the importance of safety, access to information, and financial sustainability in this treacherous terrain.

– Safety is paramount for us, both in the field and online, Omer explains.

Working in a challenging and volatile environment, journalists must navigate through conflicting parties, ensuring their well-being while pursuing the truth. Omer’s experience and understanding of safety and security protocols in dealing with warring factions have been instrumental in his reporting efforts.

– It’s very difficult to get access to the right sources, he laments.

Yet, Omer perseveres, determined to provide reliable and unbiased reporting despite the obstacles that obstruct the path to information.

To amplify the voices of the unheard

Financial sustainability poses an additional challenge in conflict zones. With little development and militias controlling various aspects of daily life, finding core support becomes an arduous task. Omer acknowledges the precarious nature of his profession, stating:

– Nothing is guaranteed where I work, except my persistence to continue serving local communities with fact-based news and information.

While the Iraqi constitution enshrines freedom of the press, Omer observes a lack of understanding from the government regarding journalism’s vital role in marginalized communities. He believes that journalism can amplify the voices of the unheard, fostering dialogue and societal change. Inspired by the potential to bridge divides and promote understanding, Omer finds purpose in pursuing war and peace issues through dialogue.

Salam Omer on an assignment as a consultant in Iraqi Kurdistan with NCPD’s Christiane Seehausen.

A transformative process

Recently, Omer participated in the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue’s seminar on dilemmas in war and peace. According to him, initiatives like these offers a unique opportunity for journalists to broaden their perspectives and gain new insights. He emphasizes the transformative impact it had on his understanding of the challenges he faces.

For him, the seminar served as a catalyst to enhance his reporting practices and reaffirm his commitment to responsible journalism. Engaging with a diverse range of participants from around the world, Omer was inspired by the shared insights and experiences.

– The seminar provided a platform for us to talk and network, he explains.  

This collaborative environment allowed him to recognize that he is not alone in his struggle to report from conflict zones and that there are others facing similar harsh conditions.

From conflict reporting to dialogue journalism

Notable speakers and experts at the seminar offered invaluable contributions, shedding light on war and peace dilemmas. Omer was particularly moved by the experiences shared by peace practitioners, who revealed the unimaginably tricky challenges they encounter while receiving minimal support. Their stories reinforced Omer’s belief in the power of reliable news and information in promoting peace during times of war. He adds:

– I’ve come out with the feeling that I am not alone. The participants also live in harsh conditions and they were a huge source of inspiration. I will continue build a bigger network to conceptualize how producing reliable information can contribute to promote peace in times of war.

The seminar’s impact on Omer’s work is evident in his commitment to building a larger network and conceptualizing ways to utilize media as a tool for peace promotion. Inspired by the participants, he seeks to produce accurate and verified journalism, empowering underprivileged and marginalized groups to engage in dialogue with others.

Omer’s dedication to debunking misinformation and disinformation, and his emphasis on countering biases, demonstrates his conviction in the potential of journalism to shape narratives and foster reconciliation.

I’ve come out with the feeling that I am not alone.

Salam Omer
LILLEHAMMER: Recently, Salam Omer participated in the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue’s seminar on dilemmas in war and peace in Lillehammer, Norway.

Journalism as a bridge over troubled water

The seminar’s practical recommendations and strategies resonated deeply with Omer. Exploring various approaches, such as increasing the production of news and information related to peacebuilding, has opened new horizons for him.

Omer now envisions future projects in collaboration with the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue that focus on reliable news, information, and researching the information consumed by conflicting parties. By fostering a constructive dialogue, he aims to create an environment where peace can flourish.

Salam Omer’s journey as a journalist reporting from conflict zones reflects the unwavering pursuit of truth amidst adversity. His experiences and challenges underscore the critical importance of safety, access to information, and financial sustainability in conflict reporting.

The seminar on dilemmas in war and peace served as a transformative experience, amplifying Omer’s dedication to responsible journalism and the power of reliable information in promoting peace. By embracing dialogue journalism and seeking to bridge divides, he embodies the potential for media to shape narratives, foster reconciliation, and contribute to building a peaceful society in post-conflict regions.

International Seminar: Dilemmas in War and Peace

Join us for this international seminar on the difficult questions regarding war and peace. We hope to see you in Lillehammer on June 11-13th.

Apply here

From Sunday June 11th to 13th, The Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue is inviting professionals, activists, and other relevant actors in the field of dialogue, peace, and conflict, to Lillehammer, Norway. The three-day seminar will center around dialogical reflection and knowledge exchange on difficult dilemmas regarding war and peace, where there is space for challenging questions, uncertainty, and complexity, rather than conclusions and absolute answers. 

As peace workers and engaged citizens the last few years have confronted us with the rugged and complex landscape that exist between war and peace since the return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2021 and Russia’s war in Ukraine in the beginning of 2022. In a world that for many feels increasingly unsafe, unpredictable, and violent, the field of peace, dialogue, and mediation come together and ask ourselves some difficult questions.

What do our dilemmas do with us and how do we react to them? How do we prepare for peace? How do we navigate responsibility and guilt in times of war? When is it time for dialogue? What is the place of pacifism in the current peace movement? When is a war won? Who do we sympathize with, and why? What does do-no-harm mean in practice? Can war be stopped without violence? What are the limits of dialogue?

Based on elevating personal experiences from specific contexts around the world, this seminar will have a broad focus, centering on fundamental questions that all peace practitioners and civil society around the globe are faced with. Together we will explore how we navigate the individual, societal, and professional challenges, opportunities, and contradictions in our diverse realities.

Through a combination of dialogues, workshops, and keynote lectures, the aim is to create a space for both the personal and professional. Organized in a process-oriented manner, the seminar content will be partly influenced by participants contributions and experiences.

See our program below:

WHEN? Sunday June 11th to Tuesday June 13th (advised arrival on the 10th)

WHERE? Nansen Academy & Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, Lillehammer, Norway

COST

Participants are asked to contribute with a participation fee of 150 EUR, which will cover accommodation and meals all seminar days, as well as dinner Saturday the 10th for those arrived. Travel is at self-cost. 

APPLYING TO THE SEMINAR

This seminar has limited spots and participants will be chosen based on experience and background. This is a forum for international practitioners and professionals in the field, which includes those with volunteer and activist experience. Previous participants of our trainings and workshops and members of our alumni network Pockets of Peace are especially encouraged to apply.

Apply here

Apply as soon as possible, as spots are given consecutively. Accepted applicants will be given information about detailed practicalities and payment, as well as the chance to share your own dietary needs etc.

Pockets of Peace 2023: Dilemmas in War and Peace receives funding from the Norwegian National Comission for UNESCO.

New December training in Dialogue in Conflict

Applications for the next training in Dialogue in Conflict are now open. We hope to welcome you to Lillehammer from the 4th to 8th of December!

APPLY HERE 

Dialogue is a way of communicating which aims to deepen and challenge our understanding of ourselves and our relation to “the other”, rather than trying to convince or win with arguments and facts. As dialogue creates space for people´s personal thoughts, emotions, experiences, and world views – it enables us to build or rebuild relationships, as well as becoming better communicators.

This training is for you who is interested in exploring the potential of dialogue to transform conflicts into opportunities, regardless of educational background or profession.

«The training was an unforgettable experience»

Rebekka Konc (Norway)

WHEN? Monday 4th – Friday 8th of December (advised arrival on the 3rd)

WHERE? Scandic Victoria Hotel, Lillehammer, Norway

LANGUAGE English

FEE 890 EURO
The fee covers all accommodation costs and meals for the duration of the training

APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 1st  

(If you need a visa, we recommend applying as soon as you can) 

APPLY HERE  

«I don’t think that there are many other institutions out there creating this kind of non-imposing, non-forceful and yet extremely useful course»

Diego Osorio (Canada)

This training has limited spots available. We therefore recommend applying sooner rather than later.

READ MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING CONTENT HERE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

October: Advanced training in Dialogue facilitation

Applications for the next training in Dialogue facilitation are now open. We hope to welcome you to Lillehammer from October 16th to 20th!

APPLY HERE  

Dialogue facilitation is an approach in conflict transformation and community building which enable people to talk together in an honest, open, and humanizing manner. Participants are invited to a process-based way of talking, where empathic listening and good questions form the foundation, and inclusiveness, respect, joint ownership, and humanity are the key ingredients. The facilitator of this process is crucial for creating and maintaining a safe space where participants feel respected, heard, and valued – they feel that they are entering a conversation where they matter.

If you want to learn how to organize and facilitate dialogue processes in different contexts like conflict situations, challenging topics or for building or re-building social networks this is the right training for you.

Practical information

WHEN? Monday 16th – Friday 20th of October (advised arrival on the 15th)

WHERE? Scandic Victoria Hotel, Lillehammer, Norway

LANGUAGE English

FEE  890 EURO
The fee covers all accommodation costs and meals for the duration of the training

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 4th (if you need a visa, we recommend applying as soon as you can).

Acceptance to this training requires either extensive experience in dialogue work or participation in our introductory training Dialogue in Conflict.

APPLY HERE 

READ MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING CONTENT HERE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

– No peace and stability without human rights for Afghan Women

Human rights defender, Horia Mosadiq, believes that Afghan women and their courageous fight for human rights can be a gamechanger in the country.

– The world shall not forget the Afghan people, especially the women, says human rights defender, Horia Mosadiq.

As in many other oppressive countries, women in Afghanistan have been extensively discriminated through history. Women’s rights issue is also vulnerable to the interpretation of Islam and the transformation of political power in the country. Throughout the changing political landscape in the last fifty years, different groups have exploited women’s rights for political gain.

Horia Mosadiq was a young girl when the Soviet invaded the country in 1979. Now she is a human rights activist with long experience working with rights issues, peace, justice, gender and violence. During the Afghanistan week 2022, Mosadiq was invited to participate in several discussions. She remembers times when the state was committed to women’s rights in Afghanistan.

– I remember my mother wearing miniskirts and taking us to the cinema. My aunts went to University in Kabul, but the Soviet invasion changed everything.

Before the 1979 invasion

When we think about women in Afghanistan, most people probably recall pictures of women in burqa or the famous National Geographic photograph of “the Afghan girl” Sharbat Gul. However, the image of Afghan women contains a lot more.  

The progression of women’s rights in Afghanistan dates to the late 19th century under the rule of king Abdul Rahman Khan. His wife, Bobo Jan, dressed without a veil, represented her husband in reconciliation processes after feuds between tribal leaders. Among few women, she also used to ride horses and trained her maidservants in military exercises.

WOMEN IN BURQUA: A common image of the Afghan woman. However, this has not always been the case.

Later, in the 1920s under the rule of Amanullah Khan who was known as the “reformer king”, Afghan girls went to school, and women were granted freedom of choice in marriage. Moving forward to the late 50s, women where also enrolled at the university.

In 1973 the incumbent king was removed by his own cousin, Daoud Khan. Khan was also committed to women’s rights and introduced reforms for women’s emancipation. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan a few years later, the communists were repressive, but still promoted women’s rights.

When the communist government fell and mujahideen factions (“guerilla warriors”) turned on each other, women’s freedom was the first victim of war. Women’s rights started its downward spiral due to war, poverty, and migration.  

Women’s rights under Taliban

In 1994, when the Taliban emerged. They imposed the “gender apartheid”, closed schools for girls’ school and demanded women to stay at home unless accompanied by a male relative. They imprisoned, tortured, and executed women in the name of “moral crimes”.

These memories are still fresh for the generation born before the 2001-invasion in Afghanistan. When Kabul fell for the second time to Taliban in August 2021, it brought horror and shock to many, including Horia Mosadiq.  

Although Mosadiq was in London at that time, she had already sensed the situation worsening. On that day, she made many phone calls to ensure that her remaining family in Kabul were safe. She describes the fall as a “chaos for all Afghans, inside and outside Afghanistan”.

– The Chaos started when President Ghani left the country. It was mass panic. Many scared women called me while they where crying.  

After the fall, Taliban gradually imposed new versions of the same “gender apartheid”. The regime banned girls from secondary school, and women are once again forbidden from working in most sectors, except in health and education. The Taliban dictated what women must wear, and women are not allowed to play sports or go to parks and public baths.  

Feeling of betrayal

While Afghanistan has always been a patriarchal society, women made significant progress and participated in all social spheres during the post-2001 era. At least in the major cities.

They were active in health services, politics, social work, education and in the economic sector. The generation after 2001 have no memory of the Taliban government policy before the turnover of power last year. However, gender discrimination has always been present in the society.

Seeing again the Taliban imposing the disreputable “gender apartheid” has also made many of these women questioning the international community’s commitment. According to Mosadiq, many Afghan women feel betrayed by the international community.

– As someone working within the international community, I would say that the experience was bitter. They were not honest and did not have the guts to tell us the truth and kept lying to the Afghan people. They did not even believe in their own promises.  

She reckons that the international community did not consider any inputs from Afghan women and compromised on their rights during the peace talks with Taliban in 2019

Horia Mosadiq puts her hope in the new generation and the women of Afghanistan.

What can be done?

Women in Afghanistan, from the elite to the grassroot, are demanding the same fundamental human rights. For the first time in the history, they stand together as a united movement. This is a dim ray of hope for many Afghans.

Mosadiq points out that it is essential to have a broad movement from grassroot activists to the elite, but when the rulers do not listen and suppress their fundamental rights, they are restrained from making changes. However, women with the access to better platforms can take a role to amplify their voices.

– Women in Afghanistan are demanding something quite simple. They are not asking for so-called western moral values, but fundamental human rights. Women living in diaspora can be their voice.

Mosadiq also addressed the UN during a seminar on women’s rights in March this year. She asked the international community for actions, not words. She places her hope in the new generation and the women of Afghanistan, which she advocates for as a human rights defender and activist. She believes that the women have shown extreme courage, and she hopes that they might change the country.

Mosadiq reminds the international community to remember that Afghanistan belongs to the people, not the Taliban.

– The world shall not forget the Afghan people, especially not the women.

Written by Hasina Shirzad.

Afghanistan must not be isolated – It is time for Dialogue and Diplomacy

Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue urges Norway and the international community to remain committed to the people of Afghanistan and keep lines of communication open.

By Norunn Grande, Director NCPD

The dramatic shift of power in Afghanistan has been shocking and frightening, and it is still difficult to grasp what has really happened in such a short timeframe. At the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue we are deeply touched by these events and our thoughts and concerns go to all Afghans who live in rural communities, in cities and towns, and those who have left their homes for protection and live far away from their loved ones.

20 years of military presence commits

It is time for self-examination and renewed commitment from the international community. Twenty years of western military intervention has left Afghan citizens with broken hopes and unpredictability. We know there is a strong fear for the future, especially regarding rights for women, children, minorities, activists, and journalists.

It is our concern that Norway and the international community must stay committed to the Afghan people and not turn a blind eye under these extremely fragile conditions. Lines of communication must remain open, humanitarian aid continue and be strengthened, basic human rights ensured, and the most vulnerable individuals and groups need to be protected.

Demonstrating courage and resilience  

Over the past years we have learned to know Afghans through cooperation with dedicated, hardworking colleagues and friends, particularly among the local staff of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), working in hard-to-reach communities. We are sincerely impressed by their commitment, resilience, and courage under unimaginable challenges.

Hopefully all that has been invested in trust building and dialogue within communities and with local Taliban leaders, will lay the foundation for meeting the needs of ordinary citizens by providing education, health, and security for all, including women, young people, and minorities. This requires, however, that fundamental human rights and security is maintained.

Dialogue on all levels

Under the current state of emergency, building peace from below may sound naive and unrealistic to some. However, the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue believes that in the long run, it may be the only way for communities to reconcile and build a peaceful future. At the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue we are committed to do what we can to assist our Afghan colleagues and friends in this work.

Dialogue on all levels is needed, from top level between international community and Taliban leadership to grassroot level within and between communities. Basic security and protection of rights is a prerequisite and needs to be guarded throughout the process. Therefore, it is of vital importance that diplomats and international humanitarian organizations return to Afghanistan and that the United Nations takes a stronger role to ensure continued commitment from the international community.